Editorial: Advertisements for reform on Beacon Hill

For months, a bizarre standoff has paralyzed the state House of Representatives, one that makes the case for several reforms on Beacon Hill.

For months, a bizarre standoff has paralyzed the state House of Representatives, one that makes the case for several reforms on Beacon Hill.

Having recessed following its last formal session in August, the House isn't supposed to be taking up anything controversial. Under the rules of informal sessions, a single member can prevent passage of any legislation by demanding a quorum call and a roll call vote. As a result, only the most routine matters - mostly requests for "sick leave banks" to benefit individual state employees and home rule petitions involving a single community - can be enacted during the informal sessions that typically last from late summer to the first of the year.

But even matters that should be routine can stir up selfish interests, and that's what happened with a routine home rule petition giving the state's approval to the creation of a liquor license for a Wegmans grocery store in the $1.5 billion Westwood Station development. Westwood Town Meeting approved the license, but Roche Bros., operators of a supermarket nearby, didn't, and reportedly hired Maryanne Lewis, a former state representative, to lobby against it.

Since informal sessions began last summer, Rep. Paul McMurtry, D-Dedham, has been on hand waiting for an opportunity to move the bill for final House enactment. But at every session, an opponent - first it was Rep. Angelo Scassia of Hyde Park, lately Rep. Paul Galvin, D-Canton, who says traffic from the development will hurt his district - has been there to cast the requisite single vote that will stop consideration.

Meanwhile, much time has been wasted and other legislation delayed, all for an issue that shouldn't be in front of the House of Representatives to begin with. The voters of Westwood are perfectly capable of deciding who can sell beer in their town without getting the state Legislature involved.

This impasse points to two areas where reform is overdue. According to Gov. Deval Patrick, 40 percent of all legislation enacted in the last two years consisted of home rule petitions affecting a single community. Putting these measures through the Legislature is, at best, a waste of time and, at worst, an opportunity for corruption or political mischief.

Patrick has introduced measures to reform the 1960-era home rule system and says he'll bring it back as part the ethics and lobbying reform package being prepared by a task force for introduction in January.

The second area for reform is in the awarding of liquor licenses. It's no surprise that the federal corruption investigation that has already resulted in indictments of a state senator and a Boston city councilor involves political payoffs for liquor licenses. Liquor licenses are limited arbitrarily through archaic state and local regulations that only serve to drive up the price of liquor licenses while putting power - and temptation - in the hands of public officials.

Between the impasse in the House and the scandals spreading through Beacon Hill, the need for reform is obvious. But the power of the status quo is strong. It will take a sustained push by Patrick - backed up by citizens across the state - to bring change.

The MetroWest Daily News

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